P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull Powertrains chief Ben Hodgkinson has issued a confident rejection of fears that its 2026 F1 power unit is illegal.
Red Bull Powertrains chief Ben Hodgkinson confidently rejected fears that their 2026 Formula 1 power unit is illegal, as they will use their in-house engine built with Ford for the upcoming season. The new F1 regulations cycle will introduce bold and drastic rules that make predicting the championship outcome nearly impossible, including the new 50-50 hybrid engine and compression ratio with a 16:1 cap. Both Red Bull and Mercedes found ways to exceed this limit above ambient temperatures due to vague wording in the regulations. Red Bull’s Director is confident their engine complies with the rules but faces demands for clarity from other manufacturers like Ferrari, Audi, and Honda in a meeting with the FIA ahead of the pre-season test in Barcelona. Despite the controversy, Hodgkinson remains defiant, stating that they are operating within legal boundaries and expects all competitors to push the regulations to the limit.
